Method and device for generating a time-dependent password

Abstract

There is provided a system and method for generating a time-dependent password in a security device using time information. An exemplary method comprises checking whether the security device has access to an external time signal. The exemplary method also comprises requesting a user of the security device to enter the time information, if it is determined that the security device has no access to the external time signal. The exemplary method additionally comprises generating a time-dependent password using the time information entered in response to the request.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method for generating a time-dependent password in a security device using time information, the method comprising:
 checking whether the security device has access to an external time signal;   requesting a user of the security device to enter the time information, if it is determined that the security device has no access to the external time signal; and   generating a time-dependent password using the time information entered in response to the request.   
     
     
         17 . The method recited in  claim 16 , wherein the time-dependent password is generated using the external time signal, if it is determined that the security device has access to the external time signal. 
     
     
         18 . The method recited in  claim 16 , comprising:
 requesting the user to specify a time zone to which the entered time information refers;   converting time information entered by the user to a time zone of an authorization station for validating the password; and   generating the time-dependent password using the converted time information.   
     
     
         19 . The method recited in  claim 16 , comprising:
 requesting the user to enter an authentication code; and   using the entered time information for generating the time-dependent password only if the authentication code has been validated successfully.   
     
     
         20 . The method recited in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 storing the entered time information;   determining that the security device has access to the external time signal;   checking, whether the entered time information refers to a future point in time compared to the currently received external time signal; and   initiating an alarm routine, if the entered time information refers to a future point in time compared to the currently received time signal.   
     
     
         21 . The method recited in  claim 20 , comprising marking the password generated using the entered time information as invalid in the authorization station in response to the initiation of the alarm routine. 
     
     
         22 . The method recited in  claim 16 , comprising:
 requesting the user to enter a secret key allocated to the user; and   generating the time-dependent password using the secret key entered by the user.   
     
     
         23 . The method recited in  claim 16 , comprising:
 displaying the generated time-dependent password at the security device; and   transmitting the time-dependent password from the security device to the authorisation station via a data network to which the security device is connected.   
     
     
         24 . The method recited in  claim 16 , wherein the security device comprises a portion of a mobile communication device. 
     
     
         25 . The method recited in  claim 16 , wherein checking whether the security device has access to the external time signal comprises checking whether the security device is connected to a communication network providing the external time signal. 
     
     
         26 . One or more tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media storing a computer program that generates a time-dependent password in a security device using time information, the computer program including machine-readable code that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:
 check whether the security device has access to an external time signal;   request a user of the security device to enter the time information, if it is determined that the security device has no access to the external time signal; and   generate a time-dependent password using the time information entered in response to the request.   
     
     
         27 . A device for generating a time dependent password using time information comprising:
 means for checking, whether an external time signal is accessible;   means for requesting a user to enter the time information, if the checking means determines that the external time signal is not accessible; and   means for generating a time-dependent password using the time information entered in response to the request.   
     
     
         28 . The device recited in  claim 27 , wherein the device is a smartcard, which can be connected to a mobile communication device. 
     
     
         29 . The device recited in  claim 28 , wherein the smartcard comprises a subscriber identification module for identifying and/or authenticating a user to a mobile communication network. 
     
     
         30 . The device for generating the time dependent password recited in  claim 27 , wherein the device for generating the time dependent password comprises a portion of a mobile communication device.